Alphabetical divider for card-index systems



Nov. 27,1923. G. H. DAWSON ALPHABETICAL DIVIDER FOR CARD INDEX SYSTEMSFiled Dec. 5 1921 T E1 1 E1 Patented Nov. 27, 1923.

1 ,475,568 umreo stars-s PATENT o FIcE.

GEORGE E. DAWSON, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS ASSIGNOR T LIBRARY BU-BEAU, A CORPORATION on NEW JERSEY.

ALPHABETICAL DIVIDEE FOR, CARD-INDEX SYSTEMS.

Application filed. December 5,1921. Serial no. 520,1aai To aZZ whom itmay concern:

Be it known that'I, Gnoncn H. DAWSON,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Cambridgein the county of 5 Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Alphabetical Dividers for Card-Index Systems; and I do hereby declare that the following is a fullclear, and exact 1 description of the same, reference being had to theaccompanying,drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

Thi invention relates to a card index system in which a plurality ofindex cards are supported in overlapping relation in a tray or frame.

It is an object of this inventionto'provide an alphabetical divider thatdivides the index cards in an alphabetical arrangement,

that readily catches the eye of an observer and that is automaticallyadjustable with the expansion or contraction of the differentalphabetical lists or divisions.

This invention comprises the novel fea tures of construction andcombination of parts hereinafter'described and more particularly pointedout and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment ofmy in vention and in which similar reference numerals refer to similarfeatures in the different views:

tional view of a frame or tray containing index cards divided accordingto my invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of an alpha- 40 betical marker upon anenlarged scale embodying my invention.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of said alphabetical marker upon anenlarged scale, detached from its supporting means.

Figure 4 is an edge view of Figure 3.

As shown on the drawings:

In referring to the drawings, it will be observed that the card indexsystem to which my invention is adapted comprises a tray or frame 1having overhanging inturned flanges 2, providing guide channels in whichthe supporting and spacing bars of the mounted cards are slidinglyretained. The cards are adapted to be mounted and 55 maintained inalphabetical order since the Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevacardsare adjustably held in the guide channels so that a card and itssupporting means 7 can be insertedat any point by shifting the ad acentcards upwardly or downwardly to provide the proper spacer Likewise, 'acard and its support can be:removed from any point and the remainingspacing bars brought together tofill up the space left by the removedbaraccording to any well.- known method in the art. Further, the cardsmay be removed fromtheir support and interchanged if necessaryso that analphabetical order isalways possible.

In such an alphabetical,arrangement of index cards, it is desirable tohave each alphabetical list or division separated or divided from thefollowing list so that each list or division will be readilydistinguished and noticed by the eye of an observer for ready referencethereto. And further,- when it is desired to add a card to any a1-phabetical division, no error can arise in adding thev same since thedivider will serve as a guide to tell just Where the added card must beinserted.

, According to my invention, I have provided an automatically adjustabledivider adapted to be inserted between the different alphabetical listsor divisions for performing the aforedescribed purpose. The dividers aremounted and supported in a man ner similar to the manner in which thecards are mounted andsupported so that they can be adjusted to increaseor decrease the alphabetical divisions they define. Each dividercomprises a member 3 of card board or the like having the samedimensions as the index cards used; the lower edge of the member 3, thatpart which lies exposed in the series of overlapping cards, is providedwith some highly colored border of some conspicuous substance such ascolored celluloid for example. While it is only necessary to cover thefront and lower edge or border of the member 3, I preferably fold astrip of the proper substance over the lower ex posed dge and paste,glue or secure the same in any appropriate manner. The folded strip 4may be flush with the lateral edges of the card as shown in the dividersA. and C in Figure l or may be laterally extendedbeyond the lateraledges as shown'in the divider B of Figure 1. In the latter case, thelateral extensions may be provided with the designating character whichWill hence be readily observed since the extensions he beyond thelateral edges of the cards.

The upper lateral edges of the divider member 3 is provided withelongated notches 5 adapted to receive the studs 6 on a hinge member 7by means of flexing the divider member in a vertical plane. And in orderto hold the divider member on the studs, lateral flaps 8 integral withthe hinge member are secured to the studs 6 so as to overlie portions ofthe divider member as shown in Figure 2. The hinge member 7 is securedto a supporting and spacing bar 9 similar to the, card-supporting barsso that each divider will have the same depth of exposed edge as theindex cards with which it is used. signed to slidingly fit in the guidechannels of the frame or tray where they are placed at the terminal ofeach alphabetical division as shown in Figure 1.

It will accordingly be apparent that I V have provided an alphabeticaldivider that is readily observable and forms a conspicuous markerbetween the alphabetical divisions that is readily adjustable forexpansion and contraction of the alphabetical divisions, and that isautomatically adjustable with the mounted cards.

I am aware that numerous details of con- The ends of the bars 9 are derstruction may be varied through a wide range without departing from theprinciples of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limitingthe patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. I a card index system, a plurality of divisions of alphabeticallyarranged index cards adj ustably mounted in overlapping re-' lation withtheir edges exposed, an alphabetical divider therefor comprising a sup-.porting and spacing bar, and a member hinged thereto and having aconspicuously colored border on its exposed edge, said divider beingslidably re-tainedbetween said alphabetical divisions. 7'

2. In an overlapping card index system, an alphabetical dividercomprising a supporting and spacing bar, a member hinged to said bar, acolored strip secured to'the lower edge of said member, and extendingbeyond the lateral edges thereof. 7

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE H. DAWSON.

